Thursday, July 22, 2010

The mission of Kia Ora Gaza is clear: to send Kiwi aid and volunteers to join the international humanitarian convoys leaving for Gaza on 18th September.

Three land convoys will leave from London, North Africa and Doha. The truck columns will rendezvous at Egypt's Rafah crossing into Gaza on the same day as a large sea flotilla heads for Gaza's shoreline.

These convoys of peace will be staffed by many hundreds of volunteers from around the world. Among these heros of social justice will be our very own Kiwi team.

OUR TARGET

To fund our Kiwi team, Kia Ora Gaza's target is to raise $100,000. We have only ten weeks to do so. Our success depends on the generosity of spirit of humanitarians like yourself.

Kia Ora Gaza is a not-for-profit coalition whose entire funds go to the sole benefit of the people of Gaza. All our accounts are subject to audit by a professional auditor (donating his services free) who is independent of our Board of Trustees.

FALLEN HEROS

On 31st March, nine civilian aid workers on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza were shot to death by Israeli commandos. Our fallen heros made the ultimate sacrifice.

Your financial sacrifices over the next ten weeks will support our Kiwi contribution to the international convoys aiming to breach the prison walls of Gaza and deliver aid to its suffering people.

After being in public existence for less than a fortnight, Kia Ora Gaza has received cash and pledges of more than $20,000.

That is a mighty first step. Yet we need a large flow of donations every week for the next ten weeks to reach our target of $100,000. We can only make it with the financial support of people like yourself.

To donate, go to kiaoragaza.net

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

We invite you to become an Official Sponsor of our Kiwi team to Gaza:

A Golden Fern Sponsor is an individual or family or network or organisation contributing $1,000 or more to Kia Ora Gaza.

A Silver Fern Sponsor is a contributor of at least $500 but less than $1,000.

Talk with your family and your networks about becoming an Official Sponsor.KIWI VOLUNTEERS

To date, sixteen courageous Kiwis have put up their hands and said: "Yes, I'm ready to become a volunteer with Kia Ora Gaza." They know they could be putting themselves in harm's way to help people on the other side of the world.

If you want to apply to become a Kiwi volunteer, email Kia Ora Gaza co-organiser Grant Morgan: grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz.

The number of volunteers we send will, of course, depend on how much money is donated by humanitarian Kiwis.MEDIA COVERAGE

The world's media will be all over the international convoys when they leave for Gaza on 18th September.

Even at this early date, media in New Zealand are showing interest in the story of Kiwi volunteers going to Gaza.

Among the media already reporting on Kia Ora Gaza, or lining up to do so, are Radio Live, The Dominion (Wellington), Southland Times, Stuff, Central Leader (Auckland), Capital Times (Wellington), The Aucklander and a broad array of websites.

HOW TO HELP

Go viral: forward this Update to all your friends, and ask them to do likewise.

If you are with the media or have a blog, get the story out.

If you want to apply for our Kiwi team, email grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz.

DONATE GENEROUSLY OVER THE NEXT TEN WEEKS. Go to kiaoragaza.net.

Talk with your family and networks about becoming an Official Sponsor.